Chapter 60 Derek
Derek
The next morning.
Derek snatched up his coat and left his room at Ironcrest House, heading for the stairs. He shrugged into it and hurried down the stairs.
Rogers, the Ironcrest butler, approached the landing. “Your Lordship, you have guests.”
Derek paused halfway down the stairs. “Guests?”
“A Mr. Warren Thorton and Mr. Quinton Sheffield are awaiting you and Miss Forester in the receiving room,” Rogers intoned. “Should I inform them you are not at home?”
Derek let out a slow breath and forced patience.
He really needed to get to The Devil’s Eye to finalize his plans with Ryker.
As long as this was quick. “No, I’ll see them.
” And the hell if Mr. Thorton thought he could try to slip in and see Livy alone.
The man thought to steal Livy from under Derek’s nose? He scoffed.
He strode into the receiving room. The two men looked up from where they stood by the window, toppers held under their arms.
“Gentlemen,” Derek said stiffly. “I don’t have much time.”
Mr. Thorton’s jaw tightened, presumably at Derek’s rudeness. As though Derek gave a fuck. But Mr. Sheffield’s smile widened. Derek really didn’t like how that no longer made him angry, but after the foundling home… Bahhh. He’d softened toward the pup? Bloody hell. What was happening to him?
“I had wanted to speak with you regarding the Second Chance Home for Foundlings,” Mr. Sheffield said. “And we wanted to ask after Miss Forester’s and Lady Elliot’s welfare.”
Derek let out a resigned sigh and waved his arm toward the settee and armchairs.
They’d just settled into their seats when a soft knock came from the doorway. Livy leaned softly against the door frame, her gaze darting between Derek and the two men.
Both men jumped up, and Quinton was halfway to Livy before Derek blinked.
“Liv,” he said hoarsely and engulfed her. His muffled “Bloody fucking hell.” filled the room.
Her small arms squeezed the man back. “I’m well. Aunt Mellie is well.”
Derek glanced away, swallowing thickly. Seeing the brief flash of fear on Mr. Sheffield’s face, like he was hearing the news for the first time again—it brought the crushing emotions of that night surging to the surface.
Normally, Derek would have had something to say about any man other than himself touching Livy, but he supposed this warranted an exception. Just the once.
It was the first time Derek had seen the man deviate from his jovial, quick-with-a-grin demeanor. He’d thought the man was just…annoyingly affable. Now he wondered if there might be a bit more to the man than the easy grins he put on for the world.
Mr. Sheffield finally released Livy, and Mr. Thorton stepped up to her. He hesitated and stood there awkwardly. He glanced toward Derek. That’s right, pup. Watch yourself. He made an exception for Mr. Sheffield. But Derek wouldn’t for him.
Mr. Thorton cleared his throat, directing his attention back to Livy. “I’m glad you’re well, Liv.”
Derek growled.
The man stiffened and shot Derek a glare. “I’ve known Liv for over five years. I have every right to make sure she’s well. I care a great deal about her.”
Derek was on his feet and in front of the fop in two strides. He towered over Mr. Thorton, but the man didn’t cower. “You have no right to use her name any longer.”
The man’s blue eyes flashed, and he pressed into Derek’s space. “Trust me, I earned the privilege of her Christian name long before you came along.”
“Careful, Mr. Thorton,” Derek whispered. “I don’t like what you’re insinuating.”
“Are you two done posturing?” Mr. Sheffield’s amused voice broke into their heated exchange. “I thought you had places to be, Lord Dunmore? We have things to discuss.” He clapped his hands and flashed his lopsided grin. “Chop, chop!”
A soft pressure landed on Derek’s arm, and his eyes locked on Livy’s. Everything he needed reflected back at him in those blue irises. Unspoken solace, surety. I’m yours. You’re mine. And perhaps a bit of exasperation. Now, that’s enough.
The tension he’d been holding loosened, and he let out a long breath, and with it the territorial edge, and a good portion of the dislike he held for the blond toad settling on the settee with Mr. Sheffield.
He led her over to the armchairs that sat across from the settee.
“Curious,” she whispered. “The man who discarded women without a care—one night and on to the next—has turned out to be fiercely possessive.”
He caught her gaze from the corner of his eye. “He finally met the right woman.”
Her lips pressed together against a smile, and he knew she wanted to roll her eyes at him. Rogue.
They took their seats.
“The foundling home?” Derek said gruffly.
“I’d like to become a benefactor,” Mr. Sheffield said. “Considering you’re building a second home, I was hoping there was room for another partner.”
Derek opened his mouth. And nothing happened.
“Quint,” Livy breathed. Thankfully, someone was able to find words. “How incredibly generous and thoughtful. And fitting. You have always stepped into the caretaker role with such ease. With me. With your younger sisters.”
He ruffled a hand through his chestnut curls and smiled wryly.
“I’ve been searching for something. I’ve a spare bit of money lying around and was hoping to make a difference with it.
After visiting the home…” His gaze landed on Derek.
“I’ve never seen a foundling home like yours.
It felt like a home. I want to be a part of that. ”
Once again, Derek struggled for words.
“I believe what Lord Dunmore means to say is thank you.” Livy shot him an amused smile.
He narrowed his eyes at the fresh little minx. He turned back to Mr. Sheffield. “I appreciate that more than I can say, because that is exactly what we aim to provide to these children.
“I’ll need to discuss with my—partners.” His heart flinched at the word.
At the fact that he might not get the chance to discuss this with Rafe.
He forced a smile. “I am sure they would be happy to have you join us. Especially considering you come with a highly regarded reference.” He nodded toward Livy.
The man flashed a smile, a dimple popping. Derek just managed to hold back his grimace. The man really needed to stop smiling so much. It was nauseating.
“That’s excellent news. I can bring in ten thousand pounds. I’m happy to provide it up front if it’s needed for the build or set up a fund for annual installments,” Mr. Sheffield said.
Pardon me? Derek’s jaw fell open, and he stared dumbly at Mr. Sheffield. His head had emptied completely. He looked at Mr. Thorton, whose face mirrored his shock as well.
“You—you will be contributing ten thousand pounds? On your own?”
Livy was frowning at her friend. “Quinton, that is a hefty sum of money. Goodness, I hope you’re not donating your entire inheritance.”
“Quinton… Are you sure about this?” Mr. Thorton said quietly.
The man shrugged and threw the group one of his dopey grins. “So what if I am?”
“Mr. Sheffield…” Derek began. Now there was generous and then there was daft.
“Just Sheffield.” He extended his hand. “I hope, embarking on this venture together, we can dispense with formalities.”
Derek stared at the man’s gloved hand, an odd tightening starting in his chest. Clearing his throat, he nodded and grasped the man’s hand. He locked gazes with Sheffield, the man’s amber eyes and angular features more serious than Derek had ever seen. “Dunmore.”
Sheffield nodded, his lips curving the smallest amount.
“We are thrilled to have you join us.” And bloody hell, was that disturbing feeling sincerity? He tried to tamp it down. “However, we cannot accept your entire inheritance. Let’s find a time to sit down with Rutledge, and we can discuss finances and what makes sense.”
Sheffield was already shaking his head, but Livy stepped in and thankfully tried to talk some sense into her friend. “Quinton, you need money to live on. Whatever will you do if you give it all away? You cannot live with your mother and father forever, as much as Lady Huntingdon might wish it.”
Sheffield’s roguish grin was back, and Derek found, this time, he was much less inclined to punch it off the man’s face. “Don’t worry, Liv. I don’t need the money. I have other income.” He reached forward and tweaked her nose.
And that was when Derek truly grasped what Sheffield was to Livy. That Livy, who much like Derek, had grown up alone, had found her own family with Quinton, like he had with Rafe and Dorothea. Damnit. He did not appreciate this invasion of tender emotions today.
“Well, we should be going,” Sheffield said. “Don’t want to keep you.”
Derek nodded. “We’ll talk soon.”
“Thank you both for visiting,” Livy said brightly, popping up from her chair.
“And we’re exceedingly grateful you and your aunt are all right,” Mr. Thorton said.
Sheffield gave Livy a quick squeeze and then the two men took their leave.
Derek collapsed back into his armchair, his mind spinning. Livy settled on the arm of his chair, her fingers tracing the edge of his jaw.
“I can’t believe it,” he said, staring blindly into the room.
“I know,” she murmured. “Between that and the money you and Lord Rutledge had been able to gather, you almost have enough for the home.”
He looked up at Livy. “We can resume building with this. It’ll cover the first installment. It gives us some time to raise the final amount.”
“And there’s still the possibility of Miss Wentworth.”
Derek dropped his head in Livy’s lap and let out a half laugh, half sob. Could this really be it? Could they have done it? Was fate finally shining on them?
Fingers drifted softly through his hair, and he let his eyes slide shut. Just a moment longer. Then he really did need to meet with Ryker.